Assessed and Supported Year of Employment

At Newham, we follow national guidelines for the ASYE:

  • Reduced Caseload – caseloads start very low (40% of a full social worker) and slowly build in complexity to 90% by the end of the ASYE.
  • Increased Supervision – weekly for your first eight weeks; fortnightly up to your six month review; monthly, or more frequently if needed, from then
  • Protected Learning Time – 10% of newly qualified social workers’ (NQSWs) time is earmarked for learning (half of that for the AYSE programme, half for self-guided learning)
  • Regular Reviews – baseline, three month, six month and 11 month, with a moderation panel agreeing the results

In addition to this, we are proud to have created a bespoke full educational programme for NQSWs to support you in becoming a capable and confident practitioner by the end of your first year in practice.

The Newham ASYE programme has been developed in line with our restorative, relational, systemic Practice Framework. Our framework equips NQSWs with the knowledge, skills, tools and support to work with families as the experts in their own lives to help them identify and address the issues that impact them.

NQSWs are also encouraged to explore their own history and background, and reflect on how their Social GRACES have shaped their world view. This helps practitioners to better understand their relationships with children and families. Social GRACES also offer insight into how an individual's life and family may have come to be in a particular situation, and their experiences of social work involvement.

Our Programme

Newham's ASYE programme combines developing practice as a compassionate, curious professional with building an understanding of the processes and procedures children and families are subject to when they become involved in the social care system.

Alongside learning the policies, procedures, tasks and responsibilities of their job, NSQWs are encouraged to reflect on what it is like to be on the receiving end of the experience. They are shown how to adopt a practice style that recognises and minimises the distress social care involvement can cause, without compromising their safeguarding duties.

The diagram below illustrates the path through the Newham ASYE, divided into three review periods. In the first half of the year, each month will focus on an area of practice following the Journey of the Child. The second six months offers NQSWs an introduction to Systemic Practice while building their experience in more complex safeguarding matters.

Newham is part of the North East London Teaching Partnership, which brings together local authorities and higher education settings, including the University of East London and London Metropolitan University to offer training to NSQWs.

We are also partnered with Research in Practice, Care Knowledge, and Making Research Count, with all Newham Children’s Services employees receiving a subscription to these services.

Monthly Learning Cycles

During your first six months as an NQSW, you will follow the themed learning cycle on the right each month:

  • The month starts with a half-day training session on the month's theme, covering purposeful recording; systemic engagement with service users; direct work, and common practice errors to avoid
  • You and your manager identify themed experiential learning opportunities including observation; shadowing; joint work; recommended research, and reading relevant cases
  • During the month, you will reflect on training and, through your experiences, be able to embed your learning into practice
  • The month ends with a reflective peer group discussion facilitated by a systemically trained social worker, offering NQSWs an opportunity to share and learn from each other’s experiences and raise questions with the Workforce Development Service Manager

During the second half of the year, NQSWs attend a five-day systemic practice course, spread over 10 weeks. You will work with your manager to embed your learning into practice, and will continue to attend reflective group supervision at the end of each month.

 

Intake and Location

We take in two cohorts of NQSWs each year, in April/May and September/October.

NQSWs are placed in service areas that deal directly with children and families, including Assessment, Safeguarding and Intervention, Children in Care and, if the NSQW has significant relevant previous experience, the Children with Disabilities Team (0-25).

Your line manager is also your ASYE Assessor and we aim to keep the ratio of NQSWs to Social Workers should be no lower than one to five.

Intake is staggered across service areas to so that there should always be NQSWs from each cohort, with the earlier cohort helping mentor the newer cohort in their teams, and in turn embedding their own learning.

 

Salary and Application

£38,364 + £5,000 market supplement

12 month ASYE leading to Permanent SW role when passed.

Full time, flexible remote working. Office: Newham Dockside, E16 2QU

 

To apply for an AYSE social work role with Newham, you must be:

  • Awarded an eligible social work qualification within the 4 years prior to your start date.
  • Registered with Social Work England prior to starting
  • Able to legally work in the UK for at least 12 months following the start of the programme (we are unable to assist with visas or sponsorship)
  • Not have started an ASYE in another local authority (this can be checked with Skills For Care)

If you do not meet the above criteria, we will be unable to progress your application.

Please apply via the Newham Council jobs page.

All applicants who meet the minimum eligibility criteria will have their written submissions considered for shortlisting. Applicants who best demonstrate how they meet our recruitment criteria will progress to the next stage.

There is no set template for being a successful social worker, but we are looking for people who are empathetic and reflective, and who are able to demonstrate that they are keen to learn, passionate about serving the local community and have the ability to apply theory to practice.

If you have any questions, please click here to contact Newham Children's Social Care's Recruitment Team.